Chair: Philippe Avril

Philippe Avril is Chair of the International Bankers Association of Japan and a member of the Executive Committee. He is also a Senior Advisor for BNP Paribas, Tokyo Branch.

Philippe joined the financial services industry as a derivatives trader in Paris in 1985 as a specialist in financial derivatives. He has been a member of general management at BNP Paribas in Japan, Banque Indosuez, Deutsche Bank, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Commerzbank, and the Royal Bank of Scotland in offices including Paris, Tokyo, New York, Frankfurt, and Hong Kong. He has spent over 25 years working in Japan and is the author of several books and articles on Japanese equity derivatives and the Japanese financial industry. Philippe received the award of ‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon' (旭日中綬章) from the Japanese Emperor in 2019 for his contribution to the financial services industry.

Philippe graduated with degrees in mathematics, physics, economics and political sciences from Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l’Administration Economique, Institut d’ Etudes Politiques de Paris and the University of Paris-Dauphine.

Vice-Chair: Zenji Nakamura

Zenji Nakamura is Vice-Chair of Member Affairs and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Bankers Association of Japan. He is President and Representative Director of UBS Securities Japan, Co., as well as the Representative in Japan for UBS AG Tokyo Branch and Country Head for UBS.

Zenji Nakamura joined UBS in May 2010 as Head of Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities in Japan. In September 2012, he was named Japan Country Head as well as President and Representative Director of UBS Securities Japan Co., Ltd. He is also a member of UBS's Asia Pacific Executive Committee.

Prior to joining UBS, Nakamura spent over 23 years at Nomura where he held a series of senior roles in equities and fixed income, including Head of Global Fixed Income and International Head of Global Markets. He also served as a member of that firm's Board. Nakamura started his career as a quantitative analyst and was posted for several years in London and New York.      

Nakamura graduated with a master’s degree in Engineering from Waseda University in Japan.

Vice-Chair: Laurent Depus

Laurent Depus is Vice-Chair of Finance and Administration, and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Bankers Association of Japan. He is the President and Representative Director of Natixis Japan Securities Co., LTD.

Laurent Depus joined Natixis in November 2014 as Senior Country Manager, Japan and President & Representative Director of Natixis Japan Securities Co., Ltd. In this role, he oversees Natixis’ operations in Japan. Laurent is a member of the Executive Committee of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, Asia Pacific.

Laurent began his banking career in 1987 at The Chase Manhattan Bank (now JP Morgan Chase) in Luxembourg, Tokyo, and London. In 1996 he joined Bank of Nova Scotia (now Scotiabank) in London, before moving to BankBoston, Singapore, as Head of Treasury & FX - Asia hub in 1997.

In 2001 he joined Societe Generale in Tokyo. He served in a number of positions, including COO of Corporate Investment Banking Japan, President & CEO of Societe Generale Securities North Pacific Japan, and President & CEO of Societe Generale Private Banking Japan Ltd, and in 2010 was appointed Chief Country Officer, Societe Generale Group Japan. In 2013, he joined SMBC Trust Bank Ltd., Japan, as Chairman and Director, upon the acquisition by SMBC of the Societe Generale Trust license.
He is an External Director of the Board at SMBC Trust Bank, Ltd.
 

Laurent is a graduate of Institut libre Marie Haps, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels. He speaks French, English, Spanish and Japanese.